Imagine There's No Countries...

Michael and I have come home. Well, at least we are in the United States. We are full of mixed emotions upon our unexpected return from Central Europe. We were unable to get our visas allowing us to stay and teach in Slovakia and the European Union.

Obtaining documents to live and work in a foreign country is a unique experience. I am reminded in this time that Michael and I are hardly the first to face such obstacles when crossing the borders of our world.  While, at times, we have grown frustrated in this immigration experience, I am mindful to continue my prayers for our many sisters and brothers meet much greater immigration challenges.

Every country has its own process of awarding visas. It involves a lot of paperwork and in this case, some of that paperwork got overlooked. The Slovak Republic requires people who have lived in a country, other than that of their citizenship, for more than three months within the last five years to submit certain documentation from those countries. This stipulation applies to both Michael and me. We were able to catch this fairly early, but the process of trying to obtain the missing proved incredibly difficult. We tried to work with our school advisors and the embassies, but we simply ran out of time. When you enter the European Union you are allowed 90 days to travel. We stayed until the last possible moment, leaving the EU just one day before our 90 day tourist visas expired.

 Michael and I felt we had answered a call to be in community with the people of the Evanjelické Gymnázium and the town of Tisovec. It was really difficult to say goodbye to our students and the way of life we were just beginning to know.

With such short notice of our return, we find ourselves in a state of limbo, but we are thankful for our families who have been incredibly supportive. We are splitting our time between Ohio and Washington until we figure out the next step. We are also grateful for this time to reflect on our service in Central Europe. We have been clinging to the memories we made and we are forming our story so that we can share it with all of you.

By the Dawn's Early Light

I woke up this morning, half way around the world, to the news that Barack Obama had been
re-elected as President of the United States of America. When one lives abroad, she becomes
affirmed in her sense of patriotism. It is one thing to be American, it is an entirely different thing
to be the American. What a responsibility, to be the link to this culture so many wonder about
and experience from afar.

In my first few days with my students in Slovakia, I put together an exercise to facilitate
discussion about our two countries and cultures, asking five questions about the United States
and five questions about Slovakia. I’ll pose them to you:

USA
1.What is the first word you think of when you hear ‘United States of America?’
2.Who is the President of the United States?
3.Name one celebrity or professional athlete from the USA.
4.What countries border the United States?
5.Identify the state of Ohio and the state of Washington on a map.

Slovakia
1. If you had to choose only one word to describe Slovakia, what word would you use?
2. Who is the Prime Minister of Slovakia?
3. Who is the President of Slovakia?
4. Name one celebrity or professional athlete from Slovakia.
5. Identify on a map the part of Slovakia from which you come.

Sure, the questions about the US are easy enough, but how many of the above questions can
you answer about Slovakia? Could you even pick it out on a map? Only now can I answer these
questions after reviewing this quiz with over 200 students. What’s remarkable is that every
student could answer each question about the USA correctly. (These students could even find
Ohio and Washington on a map thanks to the Twilight series and Glee.)

And what words come to these young minds when they think of ‘America?’ Okay, so a lot of
them said hamburger, but more said hope, beautiful, freedom, and Obama.

Each day in the last few weeks their curiosity about the election grew. I found myself having
to answer question after question about each candidate and the ideals of our country. What a
responsibility to shoulder, but this responsibility does not rest on my shoulders alone. This is the
responsibility we share as citizens of the United States. In our words and deeds and votes, no
matter how they may be cast, we show ourselves to the entire world. I hope we all pause to think
about that as we reflect on the election. We live within our borders and without. We live not only
for ourselves, but with all people of this world. Be proud as we move forward.

And congratulations, Mr. President!